Green Is Likely Primary Foe for Rohrabacher

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Councilman Peter M. Green, an ardent environmentalist and a biological sciences professor at Golden West College, said Thursday that he will probably file as a Republican primary candidate by the deadline today to oppose Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

Rohrabacher, who recently moved here from Long Beach, is seeking to represent the newly redrawn 45th Congressional District. State GOP officials persuaded Mayor Jim Silva this week to withdraw in the same race.

And Green, in an interview Thursday, said he is upset that political pressure was placed on Silva to withdraw.

"I had never thought about running for the congressional seat until I read The Times today and saw how Jim Silva was pressured out," he said.

"I don't like that sort of thing," Green added. "Also, I think this area needs a congressman who knows the local issues and works to help the local businesses. I think I could do that."

Green has until 5 p.m. today to beat the filing deadline. He said Thursday that he has already taken out the filing papers and has more than enough signatures of registered voters logged on the filing papers.

Green, 66, is completing his second four-year term as a city councilman. He served as mayor last year.

Green's first election eight years ago came in a political upset. "It surprised even me," he has frequently joked.

He ran as an environmentalist working to protect the Bolsa Chica wetlands and beat a large field of candidates who were better known and had better financing.